Sin City’s newest speakeasy gets the Cosmopolitan treatment…
Las Vegas culture is a wonderful blend of innovation and rediscovery. Even when everything old is new again, those returning favorites get a Sin City twist. The speakeasy is one such legend experiencing a contemporary resurgence. Born out of Prohibition-law necessity, those secret drinking establishments of yore are popping up all over Vegas again. And this time, they’re just for the fun of it.
Cosmopolitan Las Vegas has already struck gold several times over with hidden venues. Secret Pizza is no longer a secret. Beauty and Essex‘s pawn shop/restaurant/lounge is on many a must-do list and Ghost Donkey‘s hidden door at Block 16 Urban Food Hall has been discovered countless times. So why not a speakeasy tucked behind a functioning barber shop?
The Barbershop: Cuts and Cocktails is indeed a fully-functioning salon for men. It offers a variety of services like precision haircuts, “clean-up” trims, beard/brow grooming, facials and old-fashioned straight razor shaves. The decor is awash in rich woods, black and white tile, antique cash registers and of course, barber poles. Gentlemen can relax with their favorite libation while being pampered by Master Barber Jose Sosa and a team of experts.
While under a steaming towel, most patrons are unlikely to notice new arrivals looking for that secret door. Cocktail seekers are gathered together by a host then taken to an inconspicuous janitor’s door off to one side. Coded knocks reveal a pair of curious eyes from behind a peep-hole. The day’s password is given, gaining entry for your party to the wonders that await inside the main parlor.
      Myself with Jason “Jroc” Craig (left) and photographer Noel Dahl…
Passing through this gateway, you may encounter Jason “Jroc” Craig, an ex-Marine whose imposing physical presence is as impressive as his list of successful nightspots. Jroc is one of the guiding forces behind The Barbershop, created with partner Ryan Labbe of 81/82 Group. Their new hideaway joins other recent hits like Apex Social Club at The Palms and Cosmo’s own CliQue Bar and Lounge.
The 81/82 team, in conjunction with Clique Hospitality, conceived The Barbershop as a tribute to the Prohibition era…”when whiskey and liquor were king and word of mouth was gold”. Liquor was made however possible back then, so flavors and mixers were added to “soften the blow” of less-than-stellar spirits. That ingenuity from necessity yielded classic scotch, whisky, bourbon and rye cocktails we know and love today.
The Barbershop’s extensive drink menu is just as stylish as the mixologists who create from it. Japanese, Canadian, American and Irish whiskeys share space with tequilas, mezcals, “Jesus Juice” and “Fancy Sh*t”. Draft and bottled beers join signature “Spiked Juices” and top-shelf hard liquors to satisfy every mood and craving.
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Photos: Sam Novak, The Barbershop
VEGAS UNFILTERED BLOG by Sam Novak 